Where's our new license plates?

[Buzzard]

Were these not supposed to come out in the new year?

Anyone got one or seen them?

[Ironhorse]

The website says "to be announced early in 2009 and implemented starting mid-2009". I guess we should hear something soon.

They also posted the poll results:

• In the online survey, 74% supported a new plate design.
• In the public opinion poll, 51% said the province should introduce a new plate design.

For the design itself, many Albertans like the idea of introducing a graphic element or visual theme to the plate. Mountains would be the preferred choice. Colour preferences were mixed, although a large number of people support a white background.

• In the online survey, 36% supported a visual theme with mountains.
• In the public opinion poll, 57% want a graphic on the plate and the most popular graphic was mountains or the wild rose.

The message or slogan on the plate had mixed support. In the online survey, most people favoured putting Alberta's official motto on the plate, Strong and Free. In the public opinion poll, more people liked Wild Rose Country than Strong and Free.

• In the online survey, 46% preferred Strong and Free, 34% preferred Wild Rose Country, and 20% suggested other mottos.
• In the public opinion poll, 74% liked Wild Rose Country.

http://www.licenceplate.alberta.ca/consultation.html

[Table 5]

I still think the basic yellow/black plates from the olden days where the best ones. Then again, I'm not a fan of trying to go all Bob-Ross-with-a-spray-can on license plates.

[BlackArcher101]

They'll implement them the month after I renew my existing one. That's just the way the cookie crumbles, so probably May-June, haha.

[Shin Pad]

Question: If you have custom license plates, will they automatically give you new ones with the same name or number on them? Or will you have to re-apply for it? Also, will you get first dibs on the custom name or number that you have on your license plate?

[Buzzard]

I'm in favor of change. Definately get rid of the stylized, pre-disco era... "Alberta".

Man...we've had the same plate since I was in high school !

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by Shin Pad

Question: If you have custom license plates, will they automatically give you new ones with the same name or number on them? Or will you have to re-apply for it? Also, will you get first dibs on the custom name or number that you have on your license plate?

There isn't a "first dibs" as the registrations are all staying the same, so whatever plate you have already will be the same (unless you lose it or actively request a new registration).

You will most likely get a new one only if you are getting a new registration (new, switch to custom, or lost plate). To get a new one while your other plate is valid will be at an extra cost to you most likely. The existing designs will probably stay valid. Just my guess, as they probably want to slowly ween the new design in.

[CMPunk]

I really wish we had the option of getting cutom plates. When we were in Tampa, we must have counted over a dozen types of plates. I'd be all over a Calgary Flames plate

[browna]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

There isn't a "first dibs" as the registrations are all staying the same, so whatever plate you have already will be the same (unless you lose it or actively request a new registration).

You will most likely get a new one only if you are getting a new registration (new, switch to custom, or lost plate). To get a new one while your other plate is valid will be at an extra cost to you most likely. The existing designs will probably stay valid. Just my guess, as they probably want to slowly ween the new design in.

Well the last time, my parents had two non seqential plates, but ended up with two sequential plates when the "orange" and white ones came out.
So I'm guessing the next time you register after this is implemented, you'll get new plates with a new number, and have no choice.

I would then assume you get to keep your personsalized plates. I also thought I saw it somewhere (maybe on that site) was going to be at no cost to switch over to the new actual plates at any time.

As for personalization (ie a Calgary Flames themed one), I think that was also mentioned as potentially being implemented on that linked site:

Many Albertans liked the idea of having affinity plates – a choice of designs that allows the vehicle owner to express support for a particular organization or group.

[BlackArcher101]

Originally Posted by browna

Well the last time, my parents had two non seqential plates, but ended up with two sequential plates when the "orange" and white ones came out.
So I'm guessing the next time you register after this is implemented, you'll get new plates with a new number, and have no choice.

I would then assume you get to keep your personsalized plates. I also thought I saw it somewhere (maybe on that site) was going to be at no cost to switch over to the new actual plates at any time.

As for personalization (ie a Calgary Flames themed one), I think that was also mentioned as potentially being implemented on that linked site:

Many Albertans liked the idea of having affinity plates – a choice of designs that allows the vehicle owner to express support for a particular organization or group.

That makes more sense. Sequential reg's get the new plates at the time of new renewal (and a new number), otherwise to get the same number they would have to prestamp plates or have them ordered with a wait period.

I hope you can switch over at any time for no cost, but I will probably end up getting a custom anyways when the new plates hit. I just wonder how that will work if I renew my existing one in April then get a custom in the summer.

[habernac]

Originally Posted by CMPunk

I really wish we had the option of getting cutom plates. When we were in Tampa, we must have counted over a dozen types of plates. I'd be all over a Calgary Flames plate

They've been looking at that option here, we'll see what happens.

I think April is when they said the new ones might be out, but it is the govt, so who knows?

[metallicat]

So is it going to cost us extra to get these new plates, or just the same amount that it currently costs to get a car registered? I'd imagine that cost will go up anyways.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Looks like the new plates are dead. For all the time and money spent, we'll just add a 4th number.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/licence...336/story.html

[Stranger]

Bummer.

[Ironhorse]

Lame...

[CrusaderPi]

Why wouldn't they add another letter? Or why wouldn't they reverse the numbers and letters? Everything is so complicated.

[burn_this_city]

Anyone else sick of our exceedingly useless provincial government? They blow more money on studies and other garbage. Just slowly phase out the existing ones with the new design. Pretty simple.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

Anyone else sick of our exceedingly useless provincial government? They blow more money on studies and other garbage. Just slowly phase out the existing ones with the new design. Pretty simple.

But that would require keeping track of two different things! Two! I think your expectations for our provincial motor vehicle department are a little unrealistic.

Honestly I don't care about the new license plates beyond being worried that they end up looking like some paint-by-numbers crap, but the excuses in the article are pretty pathetic.

[STeeLy]

I don't know, Ontario has so many different plate styles and they manage to do ok.

Alberta is XXX-### for almost everything unless they're veteran, etc

Ontario has:
XXX ### (Oldest plates I've seen)
### XXX (Older plates or on new trucks/buses, etc)
XXXX ### (Current and most popular car plates)

Then there are diplomatic plates, service vehicle plates, farm vehicle plates, etc..

[habernac]

I thought it was time for a change, oh well. Newfoundland is brutal for this, they've had 5 different ones in the last 20 years.